Drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction three months after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: A 70-year-old man with hepatitis C virus-related recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma was admitted for further diagnosis of a 1 cm iso-hyperechoic nodule in segment (S) 5. CASE SUMMARY: Gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) revealed the nodule in S5 with a defect at the hepatobiliary phase, hyperintensity on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and hypointensity on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed hypervascularity at the early phase, and delayed contrast-enhancement was observed at the late phase. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) revealed incomplete defect at the late vascular phase. Inflammatory liver tumor, lymphoproliferative disease, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (small duct type) and bile duct adenoma were suspected through the imaging studies. US guided biopsy, however, showed a noncaseating hepatic sarcoid-like epithelioid granuloma (HSEG), and histopathological analysis disclosed spindle shaped epithelioid cells harboring Langhans-type multinucleated giant cells. One month after admission, EOB-MRI signaled the disappearance of the defect at the hepatobiliary phase, of hyperintensity on DWI, of hypointensity on ADC map, and no stain at the early phase. CONCLUSION: That the patient had received BNT162b2 messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination 3 mo before the occurrence of HSEG, and that its disappearance was confirmed 4 mo after mRNA vaccination suggested that the drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction (DISR) might be induced by the mRNA vaccination. Fortunately, rechallenge of drug-induced DISR with the third mRNA vaccination was not confirmed.

Multiple Inflammatory Pseudotumors of the Liver Demonstrating Spontaneous Regression: A Case Report.

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) of the liver is a rare benign disease. IPTs generally develop as solitary nodules, and cases with multiple lesions are uncommon. We herein report a case of multiple IPTs of the liver that spontaneously regressed. A 70-year-old woman with a 10-year history of primary biliary cholangitis and rheumatoid arthritis visited our hospital to receive a periodic medical examination. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed multiple hypoechoic lesions, with a maximum size of 33 mm, in the liver. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed low-attenuation areas in the liver with mild peripheral enhancement at the arterial and portal phases. We first suspected metastatic liver tumors, but fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography suggested the tumors to be inconsistent with malignant nodules. A percutaneous biopsy showed shedding of liver cells and abundant fibrosis with infiltration of inflammatory cells. Given these findings, we diagnosed the multiple tumors as IPTs. After careful observation for two months, the tumors almost vanished spontaneously. Physicians should avoid a hasty diagnosis of multiple tumors based solely on a few clinical findings, and a careful assessment with various imaging modalities should be conducted.

Inflammatory Hepatocellular Adenoma with Elevated Serum Protein Induced by Vitamin K Absence/Antagonist-II in Adult Males.

Two men (24 and 34 years of age) with a single hypervascular liver tumor were admitted to our hospital. The tumors were diagnosed as hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) by an ultrasound-guided biopsy and classified as inflammatory type by immunohistochemical staining. Considering the risk of malignant transformation, they underwent surgical resection. Although the serum levels of protein induced by vitamin K absence/antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) were slightly elevated, they normalized after the resection. The diagnosis of HCA including malignant transformation is often difficult by image findings alone. Careful immunohistochemical examinations are very useful for the diagnosis and classification of subgroups, including malignant transformation. In addition, we proved that HCA without malignant transformation expresses PIVKA-II.

Malignant Transformation of Hepatocellular Adenoma.

The patient was a 20-year-old male in whom a hepatic hypervascular mass accompanied by intratumoral hemorrhage was detected on examination for epigastric pain. Based on the enlargement of the mass and diagnostic imaging, hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) was suspected and hepatectomy was performed. The lesion was diagnosed as malignant transformation of ß-catenin-activated HCA. There are only few reports of cases with malignant transformation of HCA in Japan; it is necessary to accumulate cases to investigate it.

S-1 monotherapy in a patient with cholangiolocellular carcinoma: A case report.

A 71-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis was found to have multiple hypervascular lesions in the liver on enhanced computed tomography. An ultrasound-guided biopsy of the lesion was performed. Immunohistochemical analysis for hepatocyte paraffin 1 expression was negative; cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK19, epithelial cell adhesion molecule and epithelial membrane antigens were positive; mucicarmine staining was negative. The tumor was thus histologically diagnosed as cholangiolocellular carcinoma (CoCC). The tumor was inoperable due to the associated advanced liver disease. In addition, the patient preferred systemic chemotherapy using only orally administered agents. Thus, S-1 monotherapy was recommended. S-1 was initially administered orally at a dose of 80 mg/day. Although the levels of tumor marker (prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence/antagonist-II and carbohydrate antigen 19-9) levels were marginally elevated, their values did not change over the entire course. The patient achieved a partial response according to the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) and modified RECIST 1 year after chemotherapy initiation. In conclusion, S-1 monotherapy exhibited promising efficacy against unresectable CoCC.

Unique hypervascular nodules in alcoholic liver cirrhosis: identical to focal nodular hyperplasia-like nodules?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Currently, focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)-like nodules in cirrhotic liver is spotlighted. Unique hypervascular nodules mimicking FNH-like nodule in alcoholic liver cirrhosis were clinicopathologically clarified. METHODS: Six resected and six biopsy cases of small hypervascular nodules found in alcoholic cirrhosis were studied clinicopathologically. RESULTS: All cases were male and consumed 90-150 g/day of ethanol for longer than 20 years, and hepatitis virus markers were negative. The nodules, 9-21 mm in diameter, were detected by ultrasonography during follow-up of alcoholic cirrhosis, and showed hypervascularity on angiography. Six patients were diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma and six were as hyperplastic nodule by biopsy, and the former six cases received partial hepatectomy. All of the resected nodules were completely or incompletely encapsulated. Histologically, all resected and biopsy nodules showed moderate increase of cell-density with an irregular trabecular pattern, and scar-like fibrosis with anomalous blood vessels, and unpaired arteries. All nodules showed marked or mild iron deposits in hepatocytes and/or kupffer cells, and a diffuse capillarization of the sinusoids. CONCLUSIONS: The nodules in the present series seem to fall in the same category as FNH-like nodules in cirrhotic liver, and should be taken account in screening programs including patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with an unusual neuroendocrine component.

We report a rare case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with an unusual neuroendocrine component. During a follow-up study for chronic hepatitis C in a 71-year-old man, a nodular lesion showed rapid growth from 1 cm to 4 cm in diameter within 3 months. Histologically, the tumor was consistent with moderately differentiated HCC, but was intermingled with nests of small round cells with scarce cytoplasm, which resembled those found in small cell carcinoma. This population formed small solid nests among the trabecular structures. Immunohistochemically the small round cell component of the tumor was strongly positive for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A and synaptophysin, but hepatocyte paraffin-1 (HP-1) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were negative. In contrast, HP-1 and AFP were positive, and NSE, chromogranin A and synaptophysin were negative in moderately differentiated HCC tissues. Electron microscopy revealed many intracytoplasmic neurosecretory granules in the small round cells. The labeling indexes of p53 and Ki-67 were significantly higher in the small round cell component than in the moderately differentiated HCC component. Overall, we conclude that this nodule was HCC with neuroendocrine differentiation.

Long-term survival following treatment with antineoplastons for colon cancer with unresectable multiple liver metastases: report of a case.

We report a case of survival for nearly 8 years after treatment of unresectable multiple liver metastases from colon cancer, using microwave ablation and the nontoxic antitumor agent, the antineoplastons. A 72-year-old man diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon and 14 bilateral liver metastases underwent a right hemicolectomy combined with microwave ablation of six metastatic liver tumors. We also decided to give antineoplastons to inhibit metastatic tumor growth and recurrence. Antineoplaston A10 was given intravenously, followed by oral antineoplaston AS2-1. Computed tomography scans done 1 and 4 years after the initial diagnosis showed recurrent tumors in S(4) and S(7), respectively. The patient underwent a second and a third microwave ablation of the recurrent tumors, and has survived for nearly 8 years without suffering any serious adverse effects. He is currently free from cancer. This case report demonstrates the potential effectiveness of the nontoxic antitumor agent, the antineoplastons, for controlling liver metastases from colon cancer.